Iryna Ivanivna Deryugina is a Ukrainian gymnast and coach, president of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, and head coach of the national rhythmic gymnastics team.
Place of Birth, Education
She was born on January 11, 1958, in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Her father, Ivan Deryugin, is an Olympic champion in the modern pentathlon. Her mother, Albina Deryugina, was an Honored Coach of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Ukraine; she headed a children’s and youth sports school for the Olympic reserve in rhythmic gymnastics and held the title of Hero of Ukraine.
In 1968, at the age of 10, Deryugina enrolled in the Kyiv Choreographic School.
From 1976 to 1980, she studied at the Kyiv State Institute of Physical Culture.
Career
Sports Career
From 1972 to 1982, Deryugina competed as a member of the USSR national rhythmic gymnastics team. During that time, she became one of the most decorated gymnasts.
She won numerous championships in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), the USSR, Europe, and the world. She was crowned world champion twice, USSR champion five times, and won the USSR Cup five times and the Intervision Cup four times.
She was at the peak of her form in the second half of the 1970s. From 1975 to 1979, she failed to win the most prestigious competition only once—at the 1978 European Championships.
Coaching Career
After retiring from competition, she transitioned to coaching and opened her own school with her mother. She became the head coach of the Ukrainian national rhythmic gymnastics team alongside Albina Deryugina.
Under their guidance, a number of well-known female athletes were trained, including:
- Oleksandra Tymoshenko—1992 Olympic champion;
- Oksana Skaldina is a bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games;
- Hanna Bezsonova—a medalist at the 2004 and 2008 Olympiads;
- Anna Rizatdinova—a medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2013 world champion—as well as other gymnasts.
Overall, among the students:
- 2 Olympic champions;
- 1 Olympiad medalist;
- 11 world champions;
- 30 World Championship medalists.
At international competitions, their students have won more than 120 gold, 30 silver, and 30 bronze medals.
Since 1985, Deryugina has held the status of an FIG international-level judge.
From 1988 to 1992, she served on the technical committee of that organization. She heads the Ukrainian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation.
She is also the founder and organizer of the annual tournament in Kyiv—the Deryugina Cup.
In April 2008, the International Gymnastics Federation temporarily suspended her from her duties within its organization. She was barred from participating in official events—the Olympic Games, the World Championships, and the European Championships—and had her judging license revoked until the end of the 2013–2016 Olympic cycle.
The grounds cited were alleged violations of the federation’s disciplinary rules, specifically actions deemed to be detrimental to the reputation of gymnastics and potentially indicative of an attempt to influence competition results.
Following an appeal, the suspension was reduced to 4 years. Deryugina herself called the decision political.
Previously, in 2000, she had already been suspended for one year, along with five judges, following the European Championships in Zaragoza due to biased judging against Olena Vitrychenko. Deryugina denies these allegations.
Business
According to media reports, she and her ex-husband control the closed joint-stock company (CJSC) “Best Line, “ which sells plumbing fixtures, ceramic tiles, and landscaping products. She is also a co-founder of a retail company.
Marital Status
In 1980, she married soccer player Oleg Blokhin. In 1983, their daughter Irina was born.
The couple has been divorced since 2000.
